+1-730957.jpg)
| COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS For Immediate Release: June 7, 2010 For More Information: John Ivanic, (614) 645-6798 |
ASSISTING REDEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHLAND AREA: The Columbus City Council continues to support the redevelopment of the former Northland Mall site. Economic Development Committee chair Andrew J. Ginther is sponsoring ordinance 0820-2010, an Enterprise Zone Agreement with Menard, Inc. for 75%/10 year tax abatement on real property improvements. Menards is a home improvement and building supply chain based in Wisconsin that is investing $11.5 million to build a new store on the eastern edge of the new Northland Village development along Morse Road. The store is expected to create 80 new full-time permanent positions.
SUPPORTING THE FRANKLIN PARK MASTER PLAN: The Franklin Park Master Plan focuses on preserving, yet transforming, the Conservatory and Franklin Park to ensure long-term sustainability, needed resources and service to the community. Councilmember Priscilla R. Tyson, chair of the Recreation and Parks Committee, is sponsoring ordinance 0811-2010, which authorizes the transfer of $1,100,000.00 from the Special Income Tax Fund to the Recreation and Parks Capital Improvement fund and the appropriation and expenditure of those funds for the administration and implementation of phase one of the Franklin Park Master Plan. The phase one project will be managed by the Conservatory and will include the addition of two new Palm House wings, a four-acre Community Garden Campus and a new Plant Study and Production Facility.
HELPING COMPLETE THE ALUM CREEK TRAIL-MOCK ROAD TO I-670 PROJECT: The city of Columbus is committed to providing residents with alternative means of non-motorized transportation through cycling and walking. Judiciary & Court Administration Committee Chair Eileen Y. Paley is sponsoring ordinance 0646-2010 to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the Voted 1999/2004 Voted Bond Fund to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests, contract professional services and payment of costs necessary to acquire certain real property in connection with the Alum Creek Trail-Mock Road to I-670 Project. The trail is a regional project which extends from Westerville to Three Creeks Park. The project will provide trail connectivity from Innis Park to I-670 at Ohio Dominican University and connect two major city parks and three neighborhoods to the regional trail network.
NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION DOLLARS HELPING COLUMBUS NEIGHBORHOODS: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded Columbus $23.2 million in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2). The funds, included in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, will provide for the acquisition, rehabilitation, redevelopment, or demolition of foreclosed, abandoned and vacant properties. Housing Committee Chair Charleta B. Tavares is sponsoring ordinance 0800-2010 to appropriate $11,117,773.00 in various divisions and object levels of the General Grant Fund to provide funding for approved programs in order to create vital, healthy neighborhoods by implementing strategies that build a stronger housing real-estate market in weak-market areas of Columbus. The city of Columbus is the Lead Applicant of the NSP2 Consortium which also includes Franklin County, the Affordable Housing Trust of Columbus and Franklin County, Campus Partners, Columbus Housing Partnership, Community Development Collaborative of Greater Columbus, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Columbus.
INSTALLING ENERGY EFFICIENT PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS: Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the city of Columbus was awarded $7,403,500 from the U.S. Department of Energy as a formula allocation of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). Public Service Committee Chair Hearcel F. Craig is sponsoring ordinance 0769-2010 to authorize the expenditure of $1,571,650 from the General Government Grant Fund for the installation of pedestrian signals equipped with LED technology. The new pedestrian signals will feature countdown displays and provide a clearer understanding of the meaning of pedestrian clearance intervals, increased customer acceptance of the proper operation of pedestrian signals and ultimately safer pedestrian environment. The project will replace a total of 3,698 pedestrian signals with an expected annual savings of 1,946,000 kilowatt hours upon project completion in the fall of 2012
PRESIDENT MENTEL WELCOMING GREG GERHARD OF BOB DANIELS BUICK GMC TO COUNCIL CHAMBERS: Council President Michael C. Mentel will welcome Greg Gerhard, owner and president of Bob Daniels Buick GMC to Council Chambers this evening. Mr. Gerhard will discuss the extraordinary support from officials, customers and the community, which was instrumental in the re-instatement of the Bob Daniels Buick GMC Truck dealership in the Northland area. Bob Daniels has generated over $15 million in sales to support the Northland business area.
-30-
